DEVI Sansthan Launches Global Learning Lab to Strengthen ALfA Pedagogy and Propel India’s Educational Future at 14th Ed Leadership
Uttar Pradesh Government Backs DEVI Sansthan’s Efforts to Revolutionize Education with ALfA, Says Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak
Lucknow : The 14th Ed Leadership, hosted by DEVI Sansthan, officially kicked off today with the inauguration of the First Global Learning Lab by Shri Brajesh Pathak Hon. Dy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and Shri Manoj Kumar Singh, Hon. Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh. This three-day event hosted by City Montessori School, Lucknow and Dr Bharti Gandhi along with Dr Sunita Gandhi at the World Unity Convention Center, focuses on strengthening teacher training and fostering collaborations for the ALfA (Accelerated Learning for All) Pedagogy, a cutting-edge approach recognized as one of the most relevant teaching methodologies today. Other prominent dignitaries like Dr. Abdulla Rasheed Ahmed, Former Minister of Education, Maldives graced the event.
With a mission to drive India towards the NIPUN Bharat mission of universal foundational literacy and numeracy by 2026-27, the Global Learning Lab will highlight strategies and training that empower teachers to make learning more impactful and engaging for young learners. Educators from 15 Indian states like Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Goa, Manipur, Assam, Odisha, Chattisgarh etc, International educators from 7 countries like USA, Maldives, Kenya, Ghana, Malaysia, Peru and Nepal are participating the 3-day empowering event making this a truly collaborative and innovative platform for transforming education.
Shri Brajesh Pathak, Honorable Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, expressed his pride in acknowledging the remarkable efforts of Dr. Sunita Gandhi and the entire team at DEVI Sansthan, both within India and globally. He emphasized the Uttar Pradesh government’s commitment to revolutionizing education throughout the state. Highlighting the importance of partnerships between government initiatives and innovative solutions like ALfA, he underscored their role in ensuring every child, regardless of their location, receives access to quality education and opportunities for success. “The Uttar Pradesh government pledges its support to DEVI Sansthan in their mission to enhance education in the state”, he shared.
Shri Manoj Kumar Singh, Hon. Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh, emphasized the critical role of education in shaping the future of any nation. He remarked, “Education is the cornerstone of both developed and developing countries. In Uttar Pradesh alone, we have around 138,000 state primary schools with approximately 7 lakh teachers educating over 2 crore children. With 15% of the state’s total budget allocated to education, it’s crucial to assess whether we are achieving the right outcomes. Are students from state primary schools equipped to compete with those from other institutions? There’s a pressing need to restructure our educational system. The new pedagogy introduced by DEVI Sansthan will undoubtedly contribute to this transformation, serving as a valuable supplement, though not a substitute, to traditional learning.”
The first Global Learning Lab is showcasing an innovative child-led paired learning model. This new pedagogy is expected to empower Indian classrooms and help students complete their curriculum in half the time, driving rapid progress in FLN. India needs 11,16,846 new teachers for the next three years if it’s to make up the shortfall and cater to new student enrolments. Education system is at the threshold of a complete flip. This is the most opportune time to matter.
Dr. Sunita Gandhi, Founder of DEVI Sansthan, emphasized the mission of Synergy Summit 3.0 and the Global Learning Lab, stating, “The focus is on creating a significant transformation in the education system. We’ve identified the educational goals that need to be achieved and brought together strong representation from across India and internationally. The goal is to unite experts and leaders in education to collaboratively reform the system, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to receive quality education and excel in their learning journey.”
The inaugural day also witnessed government representatives from schools from Lucknow, Unnao, and Barabanki sharing their experiences on the ALfA (Accelerated Learning for All) Pedagogy in their regions. Lalita Pradeep, Former Director of Education for Uttar Pradesh, remarked, “Any approach that promotes learning is a valuable pedagogy. The DEVI Sansthan’s focus on quick learning will enhance student proficiency and contribute to achieving the SDG goals.”
The Synergy Summit 3.0 which is also underway has brought leadership from prominent organizations like the Tata Steel Foundation, Adani Foundation, Hindalco Aditya Birla Foundation, Kotak Mahindra Foundation, The World Bank, HCL Tech, and NCERT. Over 4,000 participants will engage in the summit and the 14th Ed Leadership Conference in the coming days, with a strong focus on accelerating India’s journey towards achieving the NIPUN Bharat Mission – the national mission aimed at universal foundational literacy and numeracy by 2026-27. The event runs from September 23rd to 25th, 2024.
Kanupriya Misra from World Bank while speaking at the event shared, “We at the World Bank are committed to help Governments In India and across the world to improve the FLN. According to Learning Poverty, children in India are not able to read by the age of 10, this is a emergency that needs to be tackled. It has to be a collective effort with Government, Public Sector, Pvt Sector and associations like DEVI Sansthan to come together to find a solution which will ensure the children are educated.”